need "idiot-proof" FORM help

Miss Bobbie · Nov 8, 2007

I'm in way over my head. :ohno

The company that employs me makes canvas awnings and provides exterior hurricane protection systems. I happen to write the company Web site because I wanted to and I'm the only one that knows how.

The boss (Mr. Computer Illiterate) wants a form for folks to be able to choose an awning style, size, color, options, etc. I've referenced my HTML book and can't make sense of it.

Can anyone help? Meanwhile, I'll be looking for forms online -- I've been successful in the past with copying existing code and modifying it for my own purpose. Learned tables and slide shows that way... :tape

Any input appreciated!

~Bobbie

vmoon · Nov 10, 2007

Sorry Bobbie, I don't qualify. :lol

:

Ruth · Nov 10, 2007

You can make that type of form in Word or Access.
It allows you to put selection form markers in the document and then you can design the document to point the results to an email or a fax number if your system is set up with that feature.
Typically the results come in text format.

You can also go to Word Templates from Office online to use as a base format.

The same is true for getting templates for form already designed in Access if you have that feature and are familiar with working in Access.

Hope that helps.

IM2L844 · Nov 10, 2007

I don't know your situation exactly, but rather than a single form, the easiest solution might be to create a series of pages so you could just use simple links. Something like this:

Style1
1. Color1
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
2. Color2
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
3. Color3
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
Style2
1. color1
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
2. color2
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
3. color3
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
Style3
1. color1
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
2. color2
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3
3. color3
  1. option1
  2. option2
  3. option3

If your Boss is insisting on a single order form with all the choices already on it, but your not sure how to use the CGI-BIN form action attributes, you can use the submit button to send the information via e-mail by using: <form method="post" action="mailto:[email protected]" enctype="text/plain">

You should be able to copy and paste the following code onto a blank HTML page. Just enter the correct Email address and add, delete or change the parameters to whatever you want:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">

<html>
<head>

<title>Form</title>

</head>

<body>

<form method=post action="mailto:YOUR.EMAIL.ADDRESS.HERE" enctype="text/plain" >

<b>Your first name:</b><br>
<input type=text name="first name" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your last name:</b><br>
<input type=text name="last name" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your street address:</b><br>
<input type=text name="street" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your mailing address:</b><br>
<input type=text name="mail" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your City:</b><br>
<input type=text name="city" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your State:</b><br>
<input type=text name="state" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your E-mail address:</b><br>
<input type=text name="email " size=35>

<br>

<b>Your telephone number:</b><br>
<input type=text name="phone" size=35>

<br>

<b>Style</b><br>
<input type=radio name="style" value="Style 1">Style 1<br>
<input type=radio name="style" value="Style 2">Style 2<br>
<input type=radio name="style" value="Style 3">Style 3<br>

<br>

<b>Size</b><br>
<input type=radio name="size" value="Size 1">Size 1<br>
<input type=radio name="size" value="Size 2">Size 2<br>
<input type=radio name="size" value="Size 3">Size 3<br>

<br>

<b>Color</b><br>
<input type=radio name="color" value="Red">Red<br>
<input type=radio name="color" value="Blue">Blue<br>
<input type=radio name="color" value="Green">Green<br>

<br>

<b>Options</b><br>
<input type=radio name="option" value="Option 1">Option 1<br>
<input type=radio name="option" value="Option 2">Option 2<br>
<input type=radio name="option" value="Option 3">Option 3<br>

<br>

<b>Additional instructions or comments:</b>
<br>
<textarea cols=40 rows=10 name="Comments"></textarea>
<p>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
<input type="reset" value="Reset">
</form>
</b>

</body>
</html>

*****************

You can see what a plain page with the form looks like here:

http://prophecyworld.net/test/form.html

******************

I have tested this to make sure it works and it will produce an e-mail that looks something like this:

fname=Jane
lname=Doe
street=123 My Street
mail=P.O.Box 123
city=My City
state=My State
email= [email protected]
phone=555-555-1212
style=Style 1
size=Size 1
color=Red
option=Option 1
Comments=This is where I have added my instructions and/or comments. I have left the number of characters that can be entered as unlimited.

Miss Bobbie · Nov 10, 2007

IM2L844 -- WOW!!! This is exactly what I need!!! :hug

2:

2:

2:
I'll work on this later today and report the results.

THANK YOU!

IM2L844 · Nov 10, 2007

Miss Bobbie said:
IM2L844 -- WOW!!! This is exactly what I need!!! 2: 2: 2:
I'll work on this later today and report the results.

THANK YOU!

The pleasure was all mine, Miss Bobbie. :hat

:

Miss Bobbie · Nov 11, 2007

I've sorely neglected the housework in favor of working with the code you gave me. :laugh

bounce

While there is more to go on this page of the Web site, I have a firm grasp on what I'm doing. This is surely enough to show my boss tomorrow and see if I'm headed in the right direction. He changes his mind a lot. A lot! :rolleyes

Keeps us hopping in the production room.

Here's the link to my work: http://wilmingtonawning.com/form1.htm

We have amazingly good traffic to our little site (see also http://wilmingtonawning.com/visitors.htm) but the phone isn't ringing as often as the boss would like. :willy

: Hence, the quote-by-e-mail gimmick. Customers who phone after having visited the site usually comment on how easy it is to navigate, and how nice it is. I think a lot of commercial sites are too complicated, and I'm no fan of flash-and-dazzle, and my boss loves it. If you only knew what it looked like before I took over... :tape

Brother, I thank you again. I owe ya one! :hug

2:

IM2L844 · Nov 11, 2007

I just like doing this stuff. After looking at a few awning sites, I thought something like this ( http://prophecyworld.net/test/form.html ) might suit your needs a little better (If you prefer drop down menus...they take up less space):

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title>Order Form</title>
</head>
<body>

<form method=post action="mailto:YOUR.EMAIL.ADDRESS.HERE" enctype="text/plain" >

<b><u>CONTACT INFORMATION</u></b><br><br>
<b>Your First Name:</b><br>
<input type=text name="First Name" size=35>

<br>

<b>Your Last Name:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Last Name" size=35>

<br>

<b>Contact E-mail Address:</b><br>
<input type=text name=" Contact Email" size=35>

<br>

<b>Contact Cell Phone:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Cell Phone" size=35>

<br><br>

<b><u>COMPANY INFORMATION</u></b><br><br>
<b>Company:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Company" size=35>

<br>

<b>Company Street Address:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Street" size=35>

<br>

<b>Company Mailing Address:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Snail Mail" size=35>

<br>

<b>City:</b><br>
<input type=text name="City" size=35>

<br>

<b>State:</b><br>
<input type=text name="State" size=35>

<br>

<b>Company Telephone Number:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Phone" size=35>

<br>

<b>Company Fax Number:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Fax" size=35>

<br><br>

<b>Type of Project:</b><br>
<select name="Project" size="1">
<option selected>Select One</option>
<option>Commercial</option>
<option>Residential</option>
<option>Government</option>
<option>Prototype</option>
<option>Other</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Scope of Work:</b><br>
<select name="Scope" size="1">
<option selected>Select One</option>
<option>New Frame & Cover</option>
<option>Recover</option>
<option>Redesign</option>
<option>Repair</option>
<option>Other</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Type of Product:</b><br>
<select name="Product" size="1">
<option selected>Select One</option>
<option>Fixed Awning/Canopy</option>
<option>Retractable Awning</option>
<option>Entrance Canopy</option>
<option>Walkway Cover</option>
<option>Commercial Tent</option>
<option>Backlit Awning</option>
<option>Retractable Sun Screen</option>
<option>Custom Canvas Product</option>
<option>Industrial Curtain/Tarp</option>
<option>Umbrella</option>
<option>Other Custom</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Graphics Application:</b><br>
<select name="Graphics" size="1">
<option selected>No</option>
<option>Yes</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Graphics Design:</b><br>
<select name="Graphics Design" size="1">
<option selected>No</option>
<option>Yes</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Type of Cover:</b><br>
<select name="Cover" size="1">
<option selected>Select One</option>
<option>Canvas</option>
<option>Metal</option>
<option>Vinyl</option>
<option>Other</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Color:</b><br>
<select name="Color" size="1">
<option selected>Select One</option>
<option>Brick Red</option>
<option>Bedford Blue</option>
<option>Fern Green</option>
<option>Graystone</option>
<option>Black</option>
<option>White</option>
<option>Mocha Tan</option>
<option>Burgandy</option>
<option>Taupe</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Size:</b><br>
<b>Length:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Length" size=10><br>
<b>Width:</b><br>
<input type=text name="Width" size=10>

<br><br>

<b>Installation Services?</b>
<select name="Installation" size="1">
<option selected>No</option>
<option>Yes</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Estimate Requested?</b>
<select name="Installation" size="1">
<option selected>No</option>
<option>Yes</option>
</select>

<br><br>

<b>Additional instructions or comments:</b>
<br>
<textarea cols=40 rows=10 name="Comments"></textarea>
<p>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
<input type="reset" value="Reset">
</form>

</body>
</html>

Miss Bobbie · Nov 11, 2007

Oh, my goodness! Even more options! I have Rapture Forums bookmarked at the computer I use at work, so I can show this newer test page to my boss, too! I'll keep ya posted!

2:

IM2L844 · Nov 11, 2007

You might want to consider using a different font on your webpage. Not everyone will see the same thing you see. Less than half of the browsers will show the Lucida Handwriting. Everyone else (like me), see their defaults (Times or Times New Roman) instead. The following fonts are in order of most common to still pretty common but they will all show up to 90% or better of you viewers. Another good option is to make GIF buttons Like this one:

which I quickly made here for free: http://www.grsites.com/generate/category/2/

Microsoft Sans Serif
Franklin Gothic Medium
Arial Black
Palatino Linotype
Verdana Comic Sans MS
Arial
Lucida Console
Courier New
Impact
Tahoma
Sylfaen
Trebuchet MS
Lucida Sans Unicode

Miss Bobbie · Nov 18, 2007

Brother "IM2L844"!

Haven't forgotten you! :heythere

I haven't been able to do a thing at the company Web site, either, beyond showing my boss the form options stuff that you showed me. I'm the head seamstress and he needed me more at my sewing machines! :laugh

bounce

I've been sick for two weeks -- missed 3-1/2 days from work, and have been getting to bed about 8 p.m. Whatever else this local flu bug is about, it's exhausting! So I'll likely accomplish Web work over the long Turkey-Day weekend. That's the PLAN, anyway,

IM2L844 · Nov 18, 2007

Hope you get to feeling better. My wife was sick for about 3 weeks.

need "idiot-proof" FORM help

Miss Bobbie

Saved, Baptized, Ready for Rapture!

vmoon

Well-Known Member

Ruth

Well-Known Member

IM2L844

Seeker

Miss Bobbie

Saved, Baptized, Ready for Rapture!

IM2L844

Seeker

Miss Bobbie

Saved, Baptized, Ready for Rapture!

IM2L844

Seeker

Miss Bobbie

Saved, Baptized, Ready for Rapture!

IM2L844

Seeker

Miss Bobbie

Saved, Baptized, Ready for Rapture!

IM2L844

Seeker

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